Category Archives: Accident

It was a tragic scene recently when two mothers and four children died when their van caught fire after a crash on the 5 Freeway.

The six victims were in a minivan that was partially blocking the far-right lane on the southbound side of the freeway when it was rear-ended by a big rig traveling at 55 mph. The minivan rolled over and caught fire on the side of the road at about 3:30 a.m. Authorities said the van was packed with two Bay Area families – two children and two parents each. When the van rolled over and burst into flames the children and their mothers were in the rear seats. The men sitting in the front tried to save them from the flames but were held back by CHP officers. The two survivors were identified as Aaron Hon Wing Ng, 34, of San Francisco and Wei Xiong Li, 45, of Daly City. Both men suffered serious burns to their arms from trying to rescue their loved ones, the CHP said.

Could this have been avoided? We may never know, however there are some safety rules to follow if your car ever breaks down on the freeway. This minivan got into a minor collision with a sedan. So, the family pulled over to the side of the road. This is at night and can make it hard to see – they were then struck by a big rig, causing the vehicle to roll down the hill in flames.

If your car breaks down on the freeway or you have to pull over for any reason, follow these safety rules to keep you and your family as safe as possible:

Do not try to flag down other vehicles, i.e., don’t solicit the help of passing motorists.

Raise the vehicle’s hood and tie something white to the radio antenna or hang it out the window so police officers or tow truck operators will know help is needed.

Don’t stand behind or next to the vehicle.

If you are partially still on the road, exit your vehicle and stand as far away as possible in a safe location while waiting for help.

Pull over and out of traffic if possible. Even if all of the emergency lights are activated, some highway drivers do not pay close attention and could rear-end the disabled fleet vehicle, causing further damage or injury.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this tragic accident.

California Law| ​Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4′ 9″ in height must be secured by a safety belt in the back seat. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 12 years old, killing over 1,000 children each year.

Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and your passengers in a crash. It is extremely important to make sure all children riding in your car be properly secured before every trip. Thousands of children are injured or killed every year because their child passenger safety seats are not installed properly. Remember, most collisions occur within a mile of the home – so buckle your child in a safety seat for every trip, no matter how short. – California Highway Patrol

Effective January 1, 2017 – Children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds OR is 40 or more inches tall. The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat…

If you’re not confident of how to properly secure your child in a safety seat, contact your local CHP Area Office, and ask to speak with a child passenger safety technician. Click on this link to locate a local Area Office anywhere in California.

When you work in the construction industry, you need to be healthy and physically able to complete your job. When an accident occurs as a result of your construction job and you are rendered unable to complete your tasks, you could find your livelihood threatened. This could put your family’s well-being at risk. Rather than handling the stress on your own, enlist the help of a reputable Los Angeles construction accident lawyer from Sariol Legal Center. We will help you navigate the system and ensure that you get every penny that you deserve as a result of your accident.

A Construction Accident Lawyer Helps you with more than Medical Coverage

Medical coverage is a large part of what you want to recoup as a result of your construction site accident, but you also need compensation for lost income, both now and in the future. Our construction accident lawyers in Los Angeles will provide you with the representation and information that you need to ensure that you get everything that you are entitled to receive, allowing you to focus on your recovery and how to manage the rest of your life rather than dealing with the stress of your finances and overbearing medical bills.

Our Los Angeles Construction Accident Lawyers are Aggressive

At Sariol Legal Center we can provide you with representation for a variety of construction accidents including:

Falls from great heights

Injuries from explosions or burns

Accidents involving construction vehicles

Accidents involving defective tools or equipment

Workers’ compensation claims and issues

Construction accidents involving a third party

Wrongful death suits that involve a construction accident

Consult with a reputable Los Angeles construction accident lawyer at Sariol Legal Center today to help get the representation you need for a successful outcome to your construction accident case. Whether you are an employee that was injured on the construction site or the surviving family members of a loved one that experienced wrongful death on the job, our reputable team will be at your side every step of the way.

If you have been in a serious accident caused by unsafe road conditions or the negligence of a government employee, you have the right to claim compensation for your medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. However, you must act quickly to protect your ability to obtain compensation. You have ONLY SIX MONTHS from the date of an accident to file notice that you intend to sue the government.

At Sariol Legal Center, we provide vigorous representation in cases involving unsafe road conditions, construction zone accidents and other mishaps caused by public employee negligence. Our firm is results oriented, and we act with determination to win for our clients. We represent clients in cases involving:

Obtaining Maximum Compensation

Frank Sariol, an experienced Orange County attorney representing car accident victims, will direct an aggressive legal effort on your behalf. Our firm will visit the site of the accident, and working with a professional accident reconstruction specialist, we will document how the accident happened and who was responsible. We will also identify all of your losses, seeking full and complete compensation for you.

Remember, you have only SIX MONTHS to file notice in a case involving dangerous road conditions or public employee negligence. Get legal help today.

Free Consultation With a Lawyer

Contact Sariol Legal Center for a free consultation about an accident on a public highway or street.

Car accidents are many times unavoidable, however you can increase your chances of not being in one by adding these precautions into your daily routine. They may be minor changes, but who knows, it may save your life one day.

Before you start the engine, make sure the warning lights are off, such as the gas line, engine coolant, and engine light. And then check and make sure the tires lines and air are good enough. These are the simple ways to check that your car has no problem for driving.

Avoid the “fast lane”. By using the center or right lane on multilane roads, you have more “escape routes” should a problem suddenly arise that requires you to quickly change lanes or pull onto the shoulder. Most highway accidents occur in the left lane. Furthermore, you are more conspicuous to highway patrol if you are in the “fast lane.”

Check blind spots before you change lanes. There’s always random side-streets and parking areas where people can just pull out without you noticing. Checking your blind spots before you move in the next lane always helps avoids side-swiping accidents.Keep your eyes scanning the area ahead. Don’t just eyeball the car in front of you but watch the traffic in front of that car as well. This increases your chance of seeing a problem while still having enough time to react to it, and decreases your chance of rear-ending the vehicle in front of you should they make a sudden stop.

Drive with your hands in the 9 and 3 o’clock position. Instead of the lazy, typical way people drive with one hand at 12 o’clock or both hands resting at the bottom of the steering wheel, this recommended position facilitates maximum vehicle control when you’re forced into quick maneuvering to avoid a potential car accident.

Use the signal lights before you change lanes. When you use the signal lights, you are also warning everyone that you want to change your lanes. They will slow down or stop the car until you pass the road.

Have you been in an auto accident? Call us today at Sariol Legal Center for a free, no-obligation quote to see what compensation you can obtain.

Auto accidents are one of the most common reasons for the death and injuries of Americans. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there have been 2,791 fatalities caused by traffic accidents in 2011. This means a 71-fatality increase from 2010. While this may be a relatively low increase, a car accident lawyer points out that this is the first time that there is an increase in vehicle crash fatalities recorded since 2007.

More than the loss of lives, automotive crashes have caused millions of dollars of damage to property. This is why a California auto accident lawyer wants to remind everyone that anybody can file a personal injury claim after falling victim for such mishaps. However, to successfully win your claims you have to present enough and strong pieces of evidence to back up your claim when you file for one. But how do you prepare for the filing of your complaint?

To increase your chances of winning your claim, your first actions after the accident happened will be critical. So how can you ensure your victory should you file a claim?

Call the police immediately.

Get immediate treatment for your injuries.

Give accurate and complete information about the accident to the authorities.

Get the names and contact details of the other party.

Talk to your insurance agent.

Have you been in an auto accident? Call us today at Sariol Legal Center for a free, no-obligation quote to see what compensation you can obtain.

Car accidents can cause serious physical injury, but they can also leave the driver and passengers with mental and/or emotional injuries that may not be as apparent. Mental and emotional injuries can lurk under the surface for months or even years until treatment.

If you’ve gone through a traumatic experience, you may be struggling with upsetting emotions, frightening memories, or a sense of constant danger. Or you may feel numb, disconnected, and unable to trust other people. Recognizing you are suffering emotional trauma is key to helping, here are some tips to help you break free from this.

What exactly is emotional trauma? Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless and vulnerable in a dangerous world.

In order to stay grounded after a trauma, it helps to have a structured schedule to follow.

1. Stick to a daily routine, with regular times for waking, sleeping, eating, working, and exercise. Make sure to schedule time for relaxing and social activities, too.

2. Break large jobs into smaller, manageable tasks. Take pleasure from the accomplishment of achieving something, even it’s a small thing.

3. Find activities that make you feel better and keep your mind occupied (reading, taking a class, cooking, playing with your kids or pets), so you’re not dedicating all your energy and attention to focusing on the traumatic experience.

4. Get plenty of sleep. After a traumatic experience, worry or fear may disturb your sleep patterns. A lack of sleep can make your trauma symptoms worse and make it harder to maintain your emotional balance. Go to sleep and get up at the same time each day and aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night

PROTECT CHILDREN

Remember that children under age 13 should be properly restrained in the back seat.

While thick outerwear will keep your children warm, it can also interfere with the proper harness fit on your child in his/her car seat. Instead, place blankets around your child after the harness is snug and secure.

Always remember to lock your vehicle when exiting so children do not play or get trapped inside.

ALWAYS BE ALERT

If road conditions are hazardous, avoid driving if possible. Wait until road and weather conditions improve before venturing out in your vehicle.